JOSE MOURINHO may think he does not have to win the Champions League to prove himself at Chelsea. But Porto midfielder Lucho Gonzalez reckons the Special One will get the sack if he co cks it up again.Certainly Blues owner Roman Abramovich, with whom Mourinho has a frosty relationship, is expecting the “cup with the big ears” in the trophy cabinet come the end of this eventful season.
Mourinho has failed to deliver it twice at Stamford Bridge. A third failure might be once too often and prompt Abramovich to get rid before the manager has a chance to walk out of his own accord — possibly to Real Madrid.
Argentine ace Gonzalez, 26, will do battle against Chelsea in the first leg of the clubsÂ’ last-16 tie at the Estadio do Dragao tonight. He believes MourinhoÂ’s job is on the line and has studied the explosive events which have been taking place at Stamford Bridge with great interest.
Gonzalez said: “I respect Chelsea but it seems that they are a long way away from what is expected of the stars there. “Mourinho is in a life-and-death situation if he loses another Champions League. “As I see it, it is a match that will prove decisive for many people — it could decide the future of all involved. “So we know they will come with all their power and motivation — but Porto are playing samba football and we are having a great run.
“We are obliged to win and we need to go to London with a respectable advantage. “I know how to read the situation. Porto have what it takes to break Chelsea’s midfield, which is their strength.”
South African striker Benni McCarthy, now at Blackburn, was the last Porto player to score a winner against Chelsea. He grabbed the second as Porto beat the Blues 2-1 in December 2004. And the big hitman feels that Chelsea could be beaten again. McCarthy said: “Porto have got a great chance of winning.
But French midfield ace Claude Makelele claims “We had to settle in to the new style of play with Michael Ballack and Andriy Shevchenko. “It was difficult for the two to play in a team that was working very well before they arrived.
“But now I am confident that everything is fine. “I hope to win the Champions League and the Premiership.”
